Foot massaging and vibrating device



Feb. 20, 1951 v H. E. WALTERS 2,542,221

FOOT MASSAGING AND VIBRATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l28 I L 3 J2 I 79 INVENTOR.

HERBERT E. WALTERS H. E. WALTERS FOOT MASSAGING AND VIBRATING DEVICEFeb. 20, 1951 5 $heets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1948 JNVENTOR.

W L A W T a E B R E H Feb. 20, 1951 WALTERS 2,542,221

FOOT MASSAGING AND VIBRATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. HERBERT E, WALTERS tem of the wastes of fatigue. also has theeffect of .exercisingandstrengthening Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE FOOT MASSAGINGFAND' VIBRATING DEVICE Herbert E.Walters, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Wendell .Kindley, Oakland,Calif., and T..L.-Hyde, The Dalles, Oreg.

Application-December 7, 1'948, Serial No.-63-,'923

(Clo128-46) 8 Claims.

feet aids the circulationof ithesblood the legs thereby permitting thereturn to. the venous sys- Such massaging the muscles of the feet:andcontributes xtothe elimination of many common :ioot ailments.

When massaging'of the natureisyperformedmanually, the desired resultsare obtainedonlyafteria strenuous and time consuming lation of the feet.

One of the objects of this invention is the. provision of a footmassager which will-effect Tmechemically a complete massaging of the:feet in a few minutes.

Another object of the invention-is the provision of a footmassager whichwill impart abeneficial vibrating motion simultaneously to both themetatarsal arch and theheel .of the foot, thereby simulating thepracticed manipulations ofs anexperienced masseur.

Still another object of the invention istheprovision of a mechanicalfootmassager-of compact proportions, which may be .automatically -correctlypositioned with respect to thebodytto. insure beneficial results.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the specificationanddrawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view .ofthe massager detached from itssupport and-partially broken away .and in section to show structure.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view zof.za,.,portiontof.the massager as takenalong lines -2--2 of Fig. .1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of .a portion of .-.the massager as takenalong lines 3--3 of. Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is .a sectional view .of .a'portion :ofzthe massager as takenalonglines 4-'-4 .of Fig.1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken alonglines 5- 5 physical manipuof Figs.3 and 1, showing the spring audits-associated mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the massager along with itssupporting structure :and chair, several of the diiferent positions ofthe massager being indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of the structure shown inFig. 6 exceptfor theich'air; which is omitted for clarity, and takenfrom the endmfthe structure opposite .thechair.

Fig. 8 is. aschematic diagramsof thevparallelogram defined.byithefsupporting: stnuctureotvlthe massager.

and lsrespectively (Fig. 3). 'electric motor is provided with coaxialextension WTheLmechanism-LOI the massaging device ispreferablywsupponted 'within 1 two box-line casingsxfiF'igl), an "outercasing generally'designated: land-.anrinner casing generally designated2. The inner casing 2. is :spaced from the'outer casing I .by means ofvibration insulators -3wso that any undesirable mechanical vibrationscrerateduwithin. the mechanism will 1 not be transferred :to'. the.outer. casing.

An electric motor 4 .islpositionedwithin the ininerzcasing andis securedto one:side of said casinguby means ofnbracketsxta and bolts and nuts-6The shaft :01 the shafts H}, H on. opposite sides of the motor andeachis formed-withan eccentrictportion 13 ad- .jacent :each of.thebrackets 5 .and spaced outwardly therefrom away from the motor. Con-Jmovementof the connecting :rods on extension "shafts l0, isgprevente'dby washers I5, I 6 on nsaid shafts. A pulley 1.1. is secured on shaft l0by key I8 and is adapted to drive a belt l9;for a ;,purpose to bedescribed.

- .Disposed :within casing 2 rand parallel to. shafts 10, fl lyistadriven shaft 2| .(Fig. 4) having atone :of .its ends a .pulley 22 keyedthereto by keyf23 and adapted to be driven by belt 19. Shaft 21 bymeansof brackets .29 (Fig.2).

'Connecting. rods :30 are mounted. .on eccentric :zportionsfilaof shaft21 .inxa .similar :manner .as

' connectingi'rods [4 .are mounted .on eccentric :portionsl'3.'ofishafts 110,11.

.Heelsisupports 3 5 are. threadedly secured to the ings I. 2,whenthercarriage2521s:moved along rods 28. The web of carriage 25 isapertured as at 4| (Fig. 1) to allow connecting rods 39 to pass throughthe same.

As best seen in Fig. 2 when the users foot is placed on the massagerwith the heel of the foot on the heel support 35 the metatarsal support35 may be moved relative to the heel support by moving carriage 25 toaccommodate whatever size of foot is to be massaged. The limits oftravel of metatarsal support 36 are shown in Fig. 2 wherein the dot-dashlines indicate the metatarsal support, and its associated mechanism inthe position closest to the heel support while the position most remotefrom the heel shown in full line.

An effective arrangement of idler pulleys 45, 46 permits the carriage 25to be moved along rods 28 to various positions while the mechanism isrunning. Idler pulley 55 is journalled on pin 41 which in turn issecured in boss 38 on a wall of easing 2; Boss 48 and washer 49 atopposite sides of the pulley prevent movement of pulley .45 axiallyalong pin 47. Idler pulley it is journalled on a pin 52 carried on oneend of lever 5|. The lever 5! is pivotally connected to casing 2adjasupport is cent the end of shaft I by mea'nsof pin 53 which pin iscoaxial with shaft l 0. The end'of lever opposite that end on whichpulley 45 is journalled is connected to tension'spring 54 which springyieldably urges the pulley dfi against belt i9. Thus it'is seen that thebelt I9 which drives shaft 2! is opened out by means of pulley 45 while'a predetermined tension isprovided in the belt 19 by means of pulley 46and spring 54. As shaft 2| is moved towards the motor shaft the tensionin belt I9 which would otherwise relax is mainbe described.

:The connecting rods i l, 30 are pivotally connected intermediate theirends to one of the ends of links 58, 59 respectively and links58, 59 arein turn pivotally connected at their opposite ends.

to brackets 60, 6| respectively (Fig. 2); Brackets 69 are rigidlysecured to a side of the casing 2 adjacent hole 31 and brackets Bl arerididly secured to the web of channel-like carriage 2.5 ad- ,jacentholes 4|. vThus it is seen'that not only is a reciprocating motionimparted to connecting rods 14, 30 but also a swinging or oscillatorymotion in direction transversely of the axis of the connecting rods [4,39. It is readily apparent that the distance between supports 35, 36 isthus 'continuously'changed although such changemay be relatively'small.It is also apparent that the arcuate motions of supports 35; 36 willnever remain in phase because of belt slippage. As a result the footiscontinually subject to changing (forces in a directionlongitudinally ofthe foot as well as reciprocating forces transversely of the foot.'It'has been found that the motions this imparted to the foot areextremely beneficial and simulate to a great extent the practicalmanipulations .of an experienced masseur.

For the purpose of moving carriage, 25 to an adjusted position toward oraway from the heel supporting assembly a handwheel 65 (Fig. 3) isprovided on the outside of the outer casing l centrally of the heelsupports 35. This handwheel 65 is rigidly secured to shaft 55 which inturn is rotatably secured in plate 61. Plate 61 in turn is rigidlyconnected to the casing 2 and serves to support a pinion 58 which isrigidly secured to shaft 66. Plate 69, is provided on the opposite sideof pinion 68 from plate 61 and is secured to plate 6i by means of bolts10. A hole is formed in plate 69 throughwhich hub H of pinion 69 ispositioned.

An elongated connecting rod 14 '(Fig. l) is disposed between plates B'l,69 adjacent one of its ends and is provided with a rack 15, the teeth ofwhich are in mesh with the teeth of pinion 58. The opposite end ofconnecting rod 14 remote from pinion 68 is rigidly connected to carriage25 by means ofbrackets 16. Inner casing 2 is slotted at 13 to allowbrackets 16 to pass through the same. Thus it is seen that rotation ofhandwheel 65 will cause movement of carriage 25 to a position toward oraway from the heel supporting assembly. An indicating hand 11 may becarried by handwheel 65 and indicia '78 may be marked on the outercasing2 so that the handwheel may be rotated to a position indicating the shoesize of the user before the feet are placed on the massager, thusproviding an effective means of obtaining the proper position ofmetatarsal support 36 relative to heel support 35.

Thus it is seen that the mechanism which transmits the vibrations to thefoot supports 35, 36 is compact and neat in appearance. The footsupports-3 5, 3B and the handwheel 55 are the only members that are notentirely within the casing I. To provide ready access to the mechanismwithin the casings a door 79 (Fig. 2) may be formed flush with the outerwall of easing 2 and a locking device such as shown at 89 may beemployed to securely close the entire unit.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the supportingmeans employed to position the massaging device relative to a chair onwhich the user is seated. Referring to Figs. 6, '7 it is seen that achair Bl of comfortable proportions preferably made of tubular steel isadapted to be used in conjunction with the massager so that the properproportions between the chair and the massager and the proper angle ofinclination of the foot supports 35, 36 is insured at all times. Aplatform 82 is positioned on horizontal longitudinal extensions 83 ofthe front legs of the chair and said extensions are supported by legs89. Cross piece 85 (Fig. 7) serves right angles to the generallyvertical portion and a is hingedly secured to the massager by hinge 88.

Inaddition to the center support 81 the massager is secured relative tochair 8| by outer supports 90. These outer supports are, at their lowerends; continuations of extensions 83 and I extend horizontally away fromplatform 82 and 15 are bent back upon themselves in. a similar man'-ltrgsaagaai hef as-centcr support 1 81. However, the outer supportswareprovided wima hinge 8| intermediateLthe platform 82- and the massagerfor-a purpose to be described. The outer supports 98 extend upwardlyfrom hinge 9i and are inclined to the same angle as center support '81and-fare bent'at right angles adjacent-their' upper end and secured tocasing i-shy means of-lelbowsLBZ.

integrally secured to the inner sideofcasing 1 an bosses 93 providedwith holes 84 which holes register with holes '95 in elbows 92(Fig."-3). Bolts 98 arethreadedly secured in holes 95 and fthecasingd isrotatably mounted on-the 'shanks of bolts Siiby means of bosses 93.

The supportingstructure above described is proportioned to create aparallelogram, the cor- .ners .of-which .are defined by hinge 88,.hinger86,

*hingesSl and bolt .96. Thus, when the massager is :moved from the fullline position to the .dotted line position in Fig.6 the casing I-remainsat all itimesinclined to the same angle to the vertical. By virtueofthis parallelogram the user may seat 'himself .on the chair 8f, .place.his .feetmon .the supports 35, .38 .andxpush on the massager until acomfortable position is attained withoutmoying his feeton thesupportsdfi, 3B. .A..diagrammatic arrangement of the .:parallelogram .is.shown in Fig.8.

For the purpose of providing a predetermined resistance to i-thismovement of the massager,

springs 98 are provided within the casing I and One end of each spring98 is pivotally connected tolboss89 by means of pin if!!! and the otherend .;of spring-98 is pivotally connected to arm [8| which arm :isapertured adjacent one of its-ends to receive the spring 98. Theopposite end of arm Ifll is rigidly secured to the head of bolt 96 andthus becomes in effect a rigid extension of support 90, inasmuch as bolt96 is threadedly secured to elbow 92. As best seen in Fig. 8 which is aschematic arrangement of the parallelogram, the spring 86 becomesextended when the massager is pushed away from the chair 8|.

To insure a smooth movement of the massager at all points in its travela shock absorber I03 is provided under the platform 82. An elongatedupwardly extending link I84 is pivotally connected at its lower end tothe outer end of the operating arm 95 of the shock absorber and ispivotally connected at its upper ends to hinge 88. A stop lug I86 may berigidly secured to the link [04 above the platform 82 and lug I81similarly secured to link I84 under the platform so that the travel ofthe massager may be limited as desired.

It is to be understood that the detailed drawings and descriptions arenot to be considered restrictive of the invention, but merelyillustrative thereof.

I claim:

1. In a foot massaging device, a housing, a pair of spaced foot engagingelements within said housing projecting from a side of said housing forengaging each of the feet of a person, a power actuated mechanism andmotor therefore within said housing connected with said elements forvibrating said elements, a supporting base, pairs of parallel links,means pivotally connecting the links of said pairs respectively to eachother at their opposite ends and with said supporting base support andsaid housing to permit swinging-of said housing tod'i'ffei'ent"positionseandifoi holding said housing against rotationabout its respective axes during such movement whereby said elementswill face in substantiallythe same direction during said swinging, a*spring connected withsaid housing and with one 'of said links foryieldably holding saidhousing at one end Qf'its swinging movement, and astop for limiting the metionof said links at-said one=end ofisaidmovement.

*2. In afoot massaging device, a housing a pair of spacedfoot engagingelements within said housing projecting from a side of said housingforzengaging-each of the feet of a person, a power actuated mechanismand "motor therefore within said housing connected with said elementsfor vibrating said elements, asupporting base, pairs of parallel links,means pivotally *connecting'the links of said pairs respectively to eachother at their opposite ends and with said supporting :base'support-andsaid housing topermit swinging of said housing to differentpositionsandfor holding said housingagainst rotation about itsrespective axes during such movement whereby said elements will "face insubstantially thesame .directi'onduring said swinging, a springconnected with said housing and with one 'ofsa'id zlinks foryieldablyholding said: housing at one .end .of its swinging "movement,and .astop for limiting the motion 'of said linkssat said one end :ofsaid movement, .said support including asset .spacedsole'engaging'elements adapted to engage the sole of each .foot atthe. heeland metatarsal portions-respectively, ;a pair of spacedrshaftssupportedfor rotatioma pair of reccentricson each of said shafts and a rodconnectingeach .of said eccentrics with said elements respectively withthe eccentrics on one of said shafts being connected with the elementsadapted to engage the heel portions of said soles and with theeccentrics on the other shaft being connected with the elements adaptedto engage the metatarsal portions whereby said elements will be causedto reciprocate simultaneously upon rotation of said shafts, a stationarysupport adjacent each of said :rods and a link pivotally connected atits ends with each rod and the support adjacent thereto for causingoscillation of each rod in a plane disposed longitudinally of the footand element thereon upon reciprocation of said elements, and means forrotating said shafts.

4. In a foot massaging device having a pair of spaced sole engagingelements adapted to engage the sole of each foot at the heel andmetatarsal portions respectively, a pair of spaced parallel shafts, aninner housing enclosin said shafts, a carriage on which one shaft ofsaid pair is rotatably supported for bodily movement toward and awayfrom the other shaft of said pair, means supporting said carriage withinsaid inner housing for said bodily movement. means supporting the othershaft of said pair in a fixed position within said housing and forrotation about its axis, a pair of eccentrics on each of said shafts, arod connecting each eccentric with said elements respectively, a motorconnected with one of said shafts for rotating the same, a pulley oneach shaft and a belt connecting said pulleys for causing simultaneousrotation of said shafts, an outer housing, means supporting said innerhousing spaced within said outer housing with said rods extendingthrough one of the walls of said outer housing and with said elementsoutside said outer housing. v 5. In a foot massagin device havinga-p'air-iofspaced sole engaging elements adapted to engage.

the elements adapted to engage the metatarsalpor- .tions whereby saidelements will be reciprocated 'upon rotation of said shafts, a pulley oneach of said shafts, an endless belt extending over said pulleys forcausing simultaneous rotation of said shafts upon rotation of one ofthem, power means connected with one of said shafts for rotating thesame, means supporting saidone shaft and the eccentrics, rods andelements connected therewith for bodily movement toward said othershaft,

means for so moving said one shaft, and auto-o matic belt take-up meansin engagement with said belt for automatically maintaining the sameunder tension at all times.

6. In a foot massaging device that includes a seat for a person and amechanical foot massager provided with sole engaging elements projectingfrom one side thereof, means supporting said massager and said seat forbodily movement of said massager as a unit and said seat respectively ina direction toward and away from each other to different distances underthe influence of pressure applied by said feet against said elementswhereby said one side will be held in a fixed position relative to theaxis of said massager during said bodily movement.

7. In a foot massaging device that includes a seat for a person and amechanical foot massager provided with sole engaging elements projectingfrom one side thereof, means supporting said 'ri assager and said seatfor bodily movement of said massager as a unit and said seatrespectively in;a direction toward and-away from each other todifferentdistances under the influence of pressure applied by said feet againstsaid elements whereby said one side will be held in a fixed positionrelative to the axis of said massager during said bodily movement, saidmeans including links pivotally connected to said massager.

8. In a foot massaging device that includes a seat for a person and amechanical foot massager provided with sole engaging elements projectingfrom one side thereof, means supporting said massager and said seat forbodily movement of said massager as a unit and said seat respectively ina direction toward and away from each other to different distances underthe influence of pressure applied by said feet' against said elementswhereby said one side will be held in a fixed position relative to theaxis of said massager during said bodily movement, said means includinglinks pivotally connected to said massager, and a spring yieldablyresistin movement of said massager-in a direction away from said seat.

HERBERT E. WALTERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 837,979 Trotter Dec. 11, 19061,998,522 Pyles Apr. 23, 1935 2,002,586 Ryberg May 28, 1935 2,255,066Lamb Sept. 9, 1941

